The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 15, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

What a cozy, old-fashioned world this popular author creates--and how improbable, whether it's the precarious placement of old lighthouse-keeper Sam's feet on a winding stair or the story's pat conclusion. Sam and his wife Rose move far inland after their lighthouse is damaged in a storm (``the roof was almost gone,'' says the text, but in the picture it's the whole roof plus half the tower). They miss their favorite gulls, but as soon as they shine a beam of light from their new roof, the seagulls flock around them once more. What happens to ships when the old couple simply decides not to rebuild? Why is their new neighborhood crammed with houses on one page and spacious with lawns on the next? Like the peculiar fissures in the ruins of their lighthouse, these anomalies defy explanation. Cheery, but sloppy. (Easy reader. 5-8)

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